Tips on how to have a more climate-friendly Christmas celebration

CHRISTMAS will soon be upon us, and whether you have been singing Jingle Bells since September or shuddering in dismay at every twinkling fairy light, there is no escaping its magnitude.

There is, however, a means of escaping its waste elements that have, in many ways, become an outdated tradition - a tradition of excess.

For many, the weight of this holiday falls firmly on the shoulders of Irish mammies, from menu choices to food ordering, gift selection, and clothing. The buck not only stops with us, it’s spent by us. But are we buying happiness or into consumerism?

Reflection is something we rarely get to do, but in the run-up to Christmas planning, consider taking that moment to pause and reflect on how you’ve always ‘done’ Christmas, what has worked, what hasn’t, what was worth spending on, and what was not.

Going green doesn’t have to mean becoming the Grinch this Christmas. 

Take a look at how you can make choices that benefit your pocket, health and the environment:

GIVING AT CHRISTMAS

Where’s that lovely frilly jumper your auntie got you a year ago? Or the lavender bath set? Despite the gift giver’s sentiment and kindness, many of us don’t want, need or use what we receive. In fact, over 50% of gifts we’ll receive at Christmas are considered useless.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give - one of the best solutions is to buy a voucher for a business in the locality. It supports the local economy and gives the recipient something nice to look forward to after Christmas, such as a lunch out, or a spa treatment. 

Science backs this gift choice - studies show that people derive more happiness from experiences than material items. 

So spread some cheer and spend on vouchers for those you hold dear!

Limiting the amount of gifts:

Kris Kindle is an excellent way of reducing the Christmas shopping list. By agreeing on a budget and picking names out of a hat (or using an app), each person buys a gift for just one group member.

Santa is going green:

Santa is also a sustainability fan. He is a big believer in asking for one good quality item which is well made and will get lots of use.

In a recent interview, he shared how the greatest gift parents give their kids is entering their world of play to pretend with dinosaurs, dolls and trucks, and that this is what children will remember most. 

It’s not the toy, it’s the time spent together.

Make it one of a kind:

Whether you’re a jam maker, crocheter, birdbox builder or gardener extraordinaire, by putting your talent and efforts to work, you can create a truly special and unique gift that the recipient will appreciate.

THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

Christmas has always been known as a time of giving, but with the help of sustainable gifts, it’s possible to give gifts that bring joy, and the satisfaction of sustainability to boot. If possible, include a gift receipt so they can exchange it if needed.

Whether your gift recipient is a novice to the world of sustainability or an eco-warrior, there is something for everyone on this list. It’s not only an investment in them but also in the planet. 

One small step usually leads to another, and by sharing micro-habits with others, we create a ripple effect that grows.

Here are some suggestions:

For the coffee lover: A reusable coffee cup

For the beauty queen: Reusable make-up wipe cloths instead of cotton wool

For the ice queen/king: An oversized warm hoodie - turn the heating down by staying cosy with clothing instead

For the bookworm: How To Save Your Planet One Object At A Time, by Tara Shine. Have a feast, but don’t be a food-waste beast!

CUT THE FOOD WASTE

Did you know we waste a third of what we buy? Every Irish family throws away about €700 worth of good food each year. There are easy and accessible ways to tackle this, saving food, money, and the earth’s finite resources in the process. It’s a win all round. How?

Portion size: If you don’t want to make leftover meals with turkey for the holidays, only buy the amount yo u need, remembering that a portion size is approximately 150g.

Freeze it: Make friends with your freezer, as foods last up to six months stored there. Use it for leftovers once cooled, and vegetables if your fresh ones are prone to wilting in the veg drawer.

Buy what you need: Remember, it is one or two days that the grocery stores will be closed, so there really is no need to bulk buy in excess.

Give to those less fortunate: Consider giving food you didn’t use to those in need. Cork Penny Dinners welcomes non-perishable packaged foods at 4, Little Hanover Street, Cork, between 9am and 3pm daily and is open 365 days a year, including Christmas Day! You can also put your culinary skills to good use and prepare sandwiches, cakes and hot food for Cork’s Homeless Drive (see Facebook).

TREE CHOICES

There are more ways than one to be sustainable, and Christmas trees are a great example of this. Here are some examples of how you can opt for an eco-friendly version:

Use the tree you already have: Keep it well stored, and it will last for many years.

Opt for hiring a living Christmas tree in a pot: Cork company www.Christmastree.ie rents trees out over the festive period, and afterwards, they return them to the farm to be cared for all year round.

Go for something different: Use what you have to make a tree that reflects you and your tastes by stacking your book collection to form a tree feature, such as a Lego tree, etc.

If you have the luxury of a large garden, plant a Christmas tree such as Norway Spruce and enjoy its natural beauty year-round!

If you’re getting a single-use real tree from a tree farm, choose local and recycle it afterwards, as it can be reused for wood chippings or mulch. Your local authority provides drop-off point details.

Decorations

Light Choices: Opt for more energy-efficient LED lights and invest in a timer to ensure lights are off when you’re sleeping/out of the house.

Consider that bright light outdoors at nighttime disrupts wildlife. As much as possible, let’s leave nocturnal creatures to the cover of darkness.

Keeping lights to a minimum will also keep those dreaded electricity bills down.

Deck the Halls: Leave the Joneses to their annual colour schemes for decorating! By using and reusing what you have, you can enjoy rekindled memories that decorations have brought over the years, including those homemade by children and grandchildren.

You also are modelling an important behaviour by using what you have and taking care of it.

ABOUT THE WRITER

In 2021, Carmel volunteered to be a Climate Ambassador to learn more about the climate crisis. She developed a social media platform for one year called IrishMammyGoesGreen on Instagram to share accessible tips for going green.